Anantnag, May 03: The Department of Wildlife Protection, South Division, Bijbehara, on Friday kick started a two-day Technical Workshop cum Training Programme on Human-Wildlife Conflict on Friday.
The workshop was organized under the patronage of Sohail Ahmad Wagay, Wildlife Warden, South / Shopian, with Pardeep Wahule, Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, as the chief guest, aiming to promote advanced human-wildlife mitigation techniques among frontline staff.
Sohail Ahmad said that the Department of Wildlife Protection, led by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL)/ Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Sarvesh Rai, initiated a week-long Technical Workshop cum Training Programme on Human-Wildlife Conflict on April 29th, which they followed in the South Division at Forest Complex, South Division, Bijbehara, Anantnag, on Friday and will continue until May 4th.
He said that such training boosts the morale of the frontline staff and helps them in proper mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict. The focus is on technical enhancement among the frontline staff to tackle Human-Wildlife Conflict.
He said that Divisional Forest Officers, Deputy Directors of Forest Protection Force, Wildlife Wardens, special invitees, and a panel of national experts from Himachal Pradesh dealing with Man-Wildlife Conflict, headed by Shri Ashish Dasgupta, Ex-Member State Board for Wildlife (HP) and Honorary Wildlife Warden for the State of HP, along with his team members and trainees from Forest Department, were present during the event.
Ashish Dasgupta, along with his team, equipped the around 200 participants with the skills to effectively manage Human-Wildlife Conflict.
“Trainees undertook trekking of Man-Wildlife Conflict-prone areas and were educated about various aspects like tracking of Wild animals by direct/indirect evidence. Hands-on training was given to the trainees/frontline staff to acquaint them with the knowledge of identification of Wild Animal movements/direct-indirect evidence,” he said.
Dr. Mohsin Gazi, (MVSc) In-charge Veterinary officer, briefed the participants about the Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kashmir valley, focusing on the topography, identification of wild animal species, hotspots of conflict, and tranquilization and restraint of Wild animals.
